Automatic gas cigarette-lighter



Nov. 7, 1961 H. ZAHN 3,007,328

AUTOMATIC GAS CIGARETTE-LIGHTER Filed April 28. 1959 .Nmmf

im f i' //IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII l United States Patent Oiiiice 3,007,328 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 Claims priority, application Germany May 3, 1958 v 6 Claims.A (Cl. 67-7.1)

The present invention relates to an automatic gas cigarette-lighter having a housing containing a gas tank which is closed'by a valve when not in use and having an ignition mechanism wherein a friction wheel is moved, by means of a nger piece, over a iiint, as soon as the iinger piece is actuated, as a result of which a stream of ignition sparks is formed which ignites gas flowing out of thev-alve in the gas tank. The ignition flame is extinguished on release of the finger piece. Return springs effect the closing of the gas valve and the restoration of the ignition mechanism to the closed position.

Previously known ignition mechanisms have disadvantages which render reliable and particularly easy ignition diflicult. Moreover, there is no assurance that the opening of the gas valve Will take place simultaneously with the formation of the ignition spark.

These disadvantages are overcome in the invention wherein a spring-loaded tingerpiece is used which eX- tends rearwardly from a point adjacent to the int wheel over the top of the housing and which, at the end remote from the flint wheel, is pivotally supported, by means of a supporting arm, on the top of the housing or on the base of the mounting frame for the ignition mechanism. This supporting arm is always in contact with the actuating mechanism for the gas valve which consists of a tilting rocker, one end of which opens the gas valve and closes it again and the other end of which extends below the supporting arm with which it is always in contact.

In this manner, the rocker is tilted responsive to the yactuation lof the linger piece and thegasvalve is opened coincident with the formation of the stream of ignition sparks. Thus there is reliable ignition with optimum conditions of power transmission.

It has been found that the ignition operation is still further improved if, in accordance with the invention, the tilting rocker is constructed in the form of a plane tlat member and the supporting arm comprises an anglelike extension at the end where it is mounted on the housing or the cover of the mounting frame.

As a result, there is obtained an optimum lever action responsive to actuation of the linger piece by the thumb ^nd all lost motion is avoided.

In another form of construction, the rocker is constructed in the form of a fiat strap which is bent at an angle at its rear end and bears constantly with this angled end against the supporting arm. A special formation of the supporting arm is thus eliminated. Normal supporting arms may be used for the rear support of the linger piece on the base of the mounting frame for the ignition mechanism or on the top of the housing.

Two embodiments of an ignition mechanism constructed according to the invention are illustrated by way of example in the drawing.

FIGURE 1 shows a longitudinal section through an ignition mechanism in the closed o1' inoperative position;

FIGURE 2 shows, likewise in longitudinal section, the ignition mechanism of FIGURE 1 in the open or actuated position;

FIGURE 3 shows a modified ignition mechanism in the closed or inoperative position.

FIGURE 4 shows the open or actuated position of the gas cigarette lighter of FIGURE 3, likewise in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 5 shows the flint actuating mechanism on a larger scale; and Y FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, with the cap in open position.

In the two examples, like parts are designated by like reference numerals. Each ignition mechanism comprises a cap 1 for the gas valve, which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 2 and rotates for the ignition operation upwardly in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURES l and 3. See also FIGS. 5 and 6. Also mounted on the pin 2 is a friction wheel 3` which, when the cap is pulled open, is partially rotated by a springr pawl '3' carried by the cap 1, causing the formation of ignition sparks in cooperation with a flint 4, the latter being guided in the iiint tube 5. Coupled to the cap'at 6 is a linger piece '7 which extends rearwardly over the housing and is there pivotally supported, by means of a pin 9, on the base of the mounting frame of the ignition mechanism, by the aid of a supporting arm 8.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES l and 2, the supporting arm 8 comprises, in accordance with the invention, an angle-like extension 10 cooperating with a tilting rocker member 11, which extends straight throughout its length and lies below the bottom of the mounting frame, substantially parallel thereto, the rocker member being always in contact with the supporting arm when the gas cigarette lighter is in the closed or inoperative position.

The supporting arm 8 is adapted to be returned to its normal inoperative position under the action of a return spring 12. The ignition mechanism may -be carried on a frame 13.

Mounted in the gas tank 14 is a gas valve of known construction. The end 15 of its stem which projects from the gas tank 14 is engaged by one end of the tilting rocker member 11, with the gas valve being held closed by means of a spring which is not shown.

The tilting rocker member `11 is pivotally supported on the gas tank 14 by means of two ibosses 16. These bosses 16 could also be provided on the tilting rocker member 11 and bear in a similar manner against the gas tank or against the bottom of the mounting frame for the ignition mechanism. In the example, these bosses form the free end of a tube which is closed at its inner end and soldered into the gas tank 14 in a gas-tight manner and serves to receive the int tube 5. On ignition, the tilting rocker member 11 effects the opening of the gas valve by lifting the Valve stem 15 in opposition to the action of the valve-closing spring.

To effect ignition, the linger piece 7 is pressed down out of the inoperative position shown in FIGURE 1 into the actuated position shown in FIGURE 2. In the course of this movement, the cap 1 is pulled up and the friction wheel 3 turned rapidly to form the ignition sparks. The angle-like extension 10 on the supporting `arm 8 moves the tilting rocker member 11 into the position shown in FIGURE 2 and the gas valve is opened in opposition to the action of the valve-closing spring. Thus the gas emerging at the valve is ignited and the lighter burns.

As soon as the finger piece 7 is released, the return spring 12, which is additionally tensioned during the depression, restores the whole ignition mechanism from the open or actuated position shown in FIGURE 2 to the closed or inoperative position shown in FIGURE 1. In the course of this movement, the angle-like extension 10 on the supporting arm 8 resumes its initial position. The tilting rocker member 1-1 moves under the influence of the closing spring for the gas valve so that the latter is again closed.

The gas tank may lhave a suitable known ller device indicated at 18 for replenishing fuel.

The construction shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 differs from that of FIGURES 1 and 2 primarily in that the rocker member 11 is provided at its rear end, at 19, with an extension which is bent upwards at an angle and is always in contact with the supporting arm 8. On depression of the actuating piece 7, the rocker member 11 tilts out of the position shown in FIGURE 3 into the position of FIGURE 4, in the course of which movement, the rocker member 11 opens the gas-outlet valve through the stem 15 in opposition to the action of the valve-closing spring, so that, simultaneously with the lifting of the wick-cap carrier and the formation of the stream of ignition sparks, the gas-outlet valve is opened and gas flows out for ignition.

Furthermore, in accordance with the invention, the rocker member 111 is guided at the wick iiint tube 5 by a slot 20 formed in the member and is provided there with a bulge 16 which extends down to the top of the gas tank and serves as a pivot for the rocker member 11.

In both embodiments, a casing 17 is placed over the mounting frame 13 for the ignition mechanism and the gas tank 14.

When the members 13 and 14 are pulled apart, the rocker member 11 is exposed and can be removed. It may therefore be constructed in the form of a tool, for example with extensions or recesses for use as a box span ner or adjusting key, for example for setting or re-setting the gas-outlet valve or to actuate the ller aperture 18.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims which dene what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. In an automatic gas cigarette lighter having a frame containing a gas tank normally closed bya valve, 4an ignition mechanism including a friction wheel, a cooperable fiint member, and a spring-loaded iinger piece which extends from a point adjacent to the friction wheel rearwardly over the top of the frame, and means associated with said finger piece which upon actuation of said finger piece rotates the friction wheel relative to said int member to form a stream of ignition sparks operative to ignite gas flowing out of the valve, the combination of a supporting arm for said nger piece, said arm being pivotally connected to said frame and pivotally connected to said finger piece at the end of the latter remote from the friction wheel, actuating mechanism for said valve comprising a tilting rocker member, one end of which is operatively engageable with said valve, and the other end of which is operatively engageable with said supporting arm whereby the latter, upon actuation of said finger piece, is operative to move said tilting rocker member to a valve-opening position, and spring means for returning said finger piece to its normal inoperative positlon.

2. An automatic gas cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said tilting rocker member is constructed in the form of a plane flat member and said supporting arm is provided with an angle-like extension at the end of which isV mounted on the top of the frame, said extension bearing on said rocker member.

3. An automatic gas cigarette lighter as dened in claim 2, wherein the gas tank is provided with boss-like portions adjacent the friction wheel, forming bearing points for the tilting rocker member.

4. An automatic gas cigarette lighter as defined in claim l, wherein said tilting rocker member is constructed in the form of a plane tlat member having an upwardly extending end portion which bears against the supporting arm.

5. An automatic gas cigarette lighter as defined in claim 4, wherein said tilting rocker member is provided with a s'lot therein adjacent said friction wheel, a flint supporting tube carried by said housing and extending through said slot, said rocker member vhaving a downwardly extending bulge therein engageable with the top of the gas tank andV forming the pivot for said rocker member.

6. An automatic gas cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein said rocker member is removable and formed with means thereon which enables its use as a tool for engagement with elements of the lighter mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,691,882 Meller Oct. 19, 1954 2,743,597 Newman May 1, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,150,497 France Aug. 12, 1957 

